Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	11. INCOME TAXES: In the three months ended March 31, 2012, we recorded income tax expense of $35,000, compared to income tax expense of $327,000 in the same period of last year. Our effective tax rate was 28% in both the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2011. Our effective tax rate for 2012 and 2011 reflects the benefit of having a significant portion of our operations in Singapore where corporate income tax rates are substantially lower than the United States. Fluctuations in the level of income in the United States and Singapore will have an impact on our effective tax rate in any given annual period. We anticipate that our effective tax rate for all of 2012 will be approximately 25%. We currently have significant deferred tax assets as a result of temporary differences between taxable income on our tax returns and U.S. GAAP income, research and development tax credit carry forwards and foreign net operating loss carry forwards. A deferred tax asset generally represents future tax benefits to be received when temporary differences previously reported in our financial statements become deductible for income tax purposes, or when net operating loss carry forwards are applied against future taxable income, or when tax credit carry forwards are utilized on our tax returns. We assess the realizability of our deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance based on the guidance provided in current financial accounting standards. Significant judgment is required in determining the realizability of our deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether valuation allowances are required considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of any current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carry forward periods, our experience with loss carry forwards not expiring unused and tax planning alternatives. In analyzing the need for valuation allowances, we first considered our history of cumulative losses for U.S. income tax purposes over the past three years and also gave significant consideration to our results for U.S. income tax purposes over the past five years, as the economic cycles in our industry have tended to average five years in length. We also considered our forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carry forward periods and tax planning alternatives. Finally, we considered the length and severity of the recent global economic crisis, the impact that it had on our operating results and our expectation for rebound given recent signs of recovery in the global economy and more specifically in our markets. After considering all of these factors, and after considering other significant positive evidence, we concluded that a valuation allowance, with respect to substantially all of our U.S. based deferred tax assets, was not required at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Our results in both 2008 and 2009 were negatively impacted by the global economic slowdown, and we incurred a loss in the United States in both 2008 and 2009, where most of our net deferred tax assets are recorded. We recorded a profit in 2010 and 2011. Achievement of ongoing profitability in the United States will be a significant factor in determining our continuing ability to carry these deferred tax assets without recording a valuation allowance. If future results from our operations are less than projected, a valuation allowance may be required against virtually all of our deferred tax assets, which could have a material impact on our results of operations in the period in which it is recorded. Deferred tax assets at March 31, 2012, include net operating loss carry forwards incurred in the UK by CyberOptics Ltd., which was acquired in 1999. The utilization of these net operating loss carry forwards is dependent on CyberOptics Ltd.'s ability to generate sufficient UK taxable income during the carry forward period. The valuation allowances at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are needed for various long-term state tax credit carry forwards, state operating loss carry forwards and capital losses for which recovery is not deemed to be more likely than not.

11. INCOME TAXES:

In the three months ended March 31, 2012, we recorded income tax expense of $35,000, compared to income tax expense of $327,000 in the same period of last year. Our effective tax rate was 28% in both the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2011. Our effective tax rate for 2012 and 2011 reflects the benefit of having a significant portion of our operations in Singapore where corporate income tax rates are substantially lower than the United States. Fluctuations in the level of income in the United States and Singapore will have an impact on our effective tax rate in any given annual period. We anticipate that our effective tax rate for all of 2012 will be approximately 25%.

We currently have significant deferred tax assets as a result of temporary differences between taxable income on our tax returns and U.S. GAAP income, research and development tax credit carry forwards and foreign net operating loss carry forwards. A deferred tax asset generally represents future tax benefits to be received when temporary differences previously reported in our financial statements become deductible for income tax purposes, or when net operating loss carry forwards are applied against future taxable income, or when tax credit carry forwards are utilized on our tax returns. We assess the realizability of our deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance based on the guidance provided in current financial accounting standards.

Significant judgment is required in determining the realizability of our deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether valuation allowances are required considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of any current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carry forward periods, our experience with loss carry forwards not expiring unused and tax planning alternatives.

In analyzing the need for valuation allowances, we first considered our history of cumulative losses for U.S. income tax purposes over the past three years and also gave significant consideration to our results for U.S. income tax purposes over the past five years, as the economic cycles in our industry have tended to average five years in length. We also considered our forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carry forward periods and tax planning alternatives. Finally, we considered the length and severity of the recent global economic crisis, the impact that it had on our operating results and our expectation for rebound given recent signs of recovery in the global economy and more specifically in our markets. After considering all of these factors, and after considering other significant positive evidence, we concluded that a valuation allowance, with respect to substantially all of our U.S. based deferred tax assets, was not required at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

Our results in both 2008 and 2009 were negatively impacted by the global economic slowdown, and we incurred a loss in the United States in both 2008 and 2009, where most of our net deferred tax assets are recorded. We recorded a profit in 2010 and 2011. Achievement of ongoing profitability in the United States will be a significant factor in determining our continuing ability to carry these deferred tax assets without recording a valuation allowance. If future results from our operations are less than projected, a valuation allowance may be required against virtually all of our deferred tax assets, which could have a material impact on our results of operations in the period in which it is recorded.

Deferred tax assets at March 31, 2012, include net operating loss carry forwards incurred in the UK by CyberOptics Ltd., which was acquired in 1999. The utilization of these net operating loss carry forwards is dependent on CyberOptics Ltd.'s ability to generate sufficient UK taxable income during the carry forward period.

The valuation allowances at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are needed for various long-term state tax credit carry forwards, state operating loss carry forwards and capital losses for which recovery is not deemed to be more likely than not.